Alarm clock prophylactic dispensing system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a system for the storage and activation of a dispensing mechanism for a condom, or consdoms, within the housing of an alarm clock. The invention will comprise a storage area within the alarm clock; a dispensing mechanism within the alarm clock powered by the clock&#39;s electric power source, or by stored kinetic energy; and a button, switch or other means of manual or sensate activation, whereby the dispensing of a condom may be caused without the operator arising from his or her bed or sleeping area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC.

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an improvement to the variousforms and types of alarm clocks and alarm clock radios presently used.More particularly, the present invention relates to the addition of astorage area within said alarm clock or alarm clock radio for storage ofprophylactic devices, commonly referred to as condoms; and a dispensingsystem, whereby the operator may easily obtain those condoms from withinthe storage area of the alarm clock.

[0005] Whereas it is common for alarm clocks, alarm clock radios, andsimilar devices (herenafter referred to collectively as “alarm clocks”)to be placed nearby a sleeping area to allow the manipulation andengagement of the alarm clock's features from within easy reach from thebed or other sleeping area (An example of such a feature is that featureof an alarm clock that allows for the deactivation of an engaged alarmfor a period of time, commonly referred to as a “snooze alarm”. Thissnooze alarm feature is valuable because it is a ready and easilyaccessible means of deactivating the alarm clock's alarm while remainingin the bed or other sleeping area); and, whereas, the ability to easilyreach a prophylactic device, or condom, from ones bed or sleeping areais advantageous; and, whereas present alarm clocks do not include astorage area for prohylactic devices; this invention improves upon theprior art by placing within said alarm clock a storage feature and adispensing feature, that allow for condoms to be easily obtained whenneeded.

[0006] There are inherent disadvantages to the current, various, meansof access to condoms from ones bed, e.g.: condoms stored in the drawersof bedside tables are discretely hidden yet can become difficult tolocate when needed, condoms stored under a mattress, while within easyreach of the sleeping area, can become misplaced or dislodged easily,particulary when changing sheets. Conversely, condoms left within easyreach of a sleeping area on a bedside table or other surface are open toviewing and therefore do not provide adequate privacy to the putativecondom user. Specifically, the prior art creates a situation in whichthe putative user of a condom or condoms must store said condom(s) in aninconvenirent place, or leave those articles in open view. It is to thisfailure of the prior art to which the present invention is drawn.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention improves upon existing alarm clocks byproviding a storage area and dispensing system built within the casingof the clock radio or alarm clock. The invention will comprise a storagespace sufficient in volume to store, at an acceptable temperature andhumidity, individually packaged condoms of uncertain number; a switch,button or other means of manual or sensate activation, whereby themanipulation of that switch or button, causes a single condom to bedispensed from the storage area within the alarm clock. This storagearea and accompanying dispening system would ideally be discretelydesigned so as to make detection of said feature difficult.

[0008] The obvious advantage to this improvement is that it allows theoccupant of a bed or sleeping area who wishes to obtain a condom, to doso without needlessly fooling with the drawers of a bedside table orotherwise being required to alight from the bed. Previously, theoccupant would have to find said condom in a drawer or in apredetermined hidding place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0009] Not Applicable

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present means of storing a condom for use in or near a bed iscomplicated and impractical. This invention will consist of a stroagearea, and a dispensing mechanism comprising a button, switch, or othermeans of sensate activation, that will allow the dispensing of a condomor condoms from the storage area, as needed. Developed as a switch orbutton this invention would be placed ideally on the alarm clockhousing, within easy reach of the bed's occupant.

[0011] The button or switch, when manipulated into the on, or activeposition, will cause a single prepackaged condom to be fed through anopening on the surface of the alarm closck housing. When a number ofprepackaged condoms is loaded into the alram clock, the user would windup a spring within the alarm clock, and thereby store up the neededkinetic energy to eject the desired condoms. In the alternative, thiskinetic energy could also be supplied via the electric power source forthe alarm clock, be that battery power or electric current from a wallsocket, or otherwise. When the operator of the alarm clock wishes todispense a condom he or she would manipulate the button or switch. Thekinetic energy stored in the spring, or provided by the alarm clock'senergy source, would power the dispensing of a single prepackagedcondom. The dispensing of the condom could best be achieved through therotation of small, soft rollers or wheels which would concact the edgesof the condom wrapper and so cause the condom to be ejected from thestorage area within the alarm clock, through an opening in the alarmclock housing. This improvement allows for the easy acquisition of acondom, from a location near the bed (in fact within arms reach of thebed in most cases).

[0012] The best mode of carrying out this invention is by the placementon the housing of the alarm clock, of a switch or button that allows theoperator of that alarm clock to engage the alarm clock's condomdispensing mechanism. The best mode of storing the condoms is by meansof a void within the housing of the alarm clock of sufficient volume tostore a ceratin number of condoms. This storage area should ideally belocated away from any heat producing elements of the alarm clock so asto provide the optimal storage temperature for the condoms, as thosespecifications are indicated by the condom manufacturer. Additionally,this storage area should be free of any sharp edges or moving partswhich might puncture or otherwise mutilate the condom packages orcondoms themselves. Finally, the design of the storage area should allowfor sufficient ventalation to provide the optimal storage humidity forthe condoms as indicated by the condom manufacturer.

I claim:
 1. A storage area within an alarm clock comprising: a voidwithin the housing of the alarm clock of sufficient volume to store aceratin number of condoms. (Three may be the optimal number of condomsas this is the number of condoms within the typical package sold, andwill allow for a smaller and more discrete storage area than a greaternumber would.) This storage area should ideally be located away from anyheat producing elements of the alarm clock so as to provide the optimalstorage temperature for the condoms, as indicated by the condommanufacturer. Additionally, this storage area should be free of anysharp edges or moving parts which might puncture or otherwise mutilatethe condom packages or the condoms themselves. Finally, the design ofthe storage area should allow for sufficient ventilation to provide theoptimal storage humidity for the condoms as indicated by the condommanufacturers.
 2. A condom dispensing system wherby the condoms storedin the storage area described in claim 1 above could be ejected fromthat storage area. This dispensing system will ideally be comprised of aan undetermined number of rolling wheels or rollers which when activatedwould contact the surface of the condom wrapper and therby eject thewrapped condom from the storage area.
 3. The condom storage area as inclaim 1 above, where the dispensing system would comprise an arm orother device which would contact the edge of the condom wrapper and pushthe condom from the storage area.
 4. The condom storage area as in claim1 above, where the dispensing system would comprise any other meanssuitable to ejecting the condom from the storage area.
 5. A switching oractivation system on an alarm clock comprising: a means for activatingthe condom dispensing mechanism described in claim 2, 3 or 4 above,wherein the switching system includes a means for activating thedispensing system by means of a button or switch or other means ofsensate activation.